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David Miliband insisted the US remained Britain’s single most important ally as he sought to quash suggestions relations would cool under Gordon Brown.

The Foreign Secretary maintained Britain’s commitment to working with George Bush was “resolute” after a junior minister said Britain would no longer be “joined at the hip” with the US president.

Lord Malloch Brown, who was drafted in to the Foreign Office earlier this month, suggested the Prime Minister would not have the same bond with Mr Bush that Tony Blair did.

But Mr Miliband insisted there would be no change to the so-called special relationship under the new premier, who is set to fly out to Washington for talks with Mr Bush in the next few weeks.

“It’s very straightforward,” Mr Miliband said. “Our commitment to working with the Americans in general and the Bush administration in particular is resolute. The US is our single most important bilateral partner.”

He told the BBC Britain wanted to be a serious player in the world. “You do that with the US, not against,” he said.

Mr Miliband also pointed out that Lord Malloch Brown, a prominent critic of the US whose appointment raised eyebrows, had a “very specific” job which was to focus on Africa, Asia and reform of the United Nations.

He added: “If we want to say something you will hear it from the Prime Minister and you will hear it from myself.”

But the Tories accused ministers of sending out “confusing signals” and called on Mr Brown to state definitively the Government’s line.

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: “Is it the line that we are not joined at the hip with the US or is it the line that it is our most important strategic partner?” he asked. “Because it’s not good for the UK if the US is unclear exactly what the British Government’s position is.”